(Spectators can catch the shuttle to the TELUS presents the Whistler World Cup Finish Area at Timing Flats. Please hop on board at the Gondola Transit Exchange or Creekside Base. Enjoy the races!)

JOHN KUCERA CLOSING IN ON WORLD CUP GIANT SLALOM PODIUM
Kucera fifth in TELUS Whistler Giant Slalom with Guay also in Top 30

John Kucera (Calgary, AB) continues to creep ever closer to the first World Cup giant slalom podium of his career, finishing today’s TELUS Whistler Giant Slalom in fifth place.

Kucera, who now has four career Top 10’s in GS, finished in a two-run combined time of two minutes 38.27 seconds.

“My run was good. The first run was strong from where I started although I made a mistake on the top part, a little tactical error. But I had a strong bottom and it was basically the same story in the second run,” said Kucera, who was fourth in GS at Alta Badia, ITA in December.

Kucera said the Canadian team was well prepared for a tricky course set in the second run that included a difficult section near the bottom which a handful of racers were not able to successfully negotiate.

“It was okay for me. (Men’s coach) Lionel (Finance) radioed up and said to watch that gate but we already saw it during inspection,” said the 23-year-old World Cup Super G champion. “I just came charging in there and had a good line heading in. It was still a tight squeeze but no big problem for me.”

Hannes Reichelt had a profitable week in Whistler, following up a second place finish in Thursday’s TELUS Whistler Super-G with a victory today. Reichelt won with a two-run combined time of 2:37.43 with World Cup veteran Didier Cuche of Switzerland second followed by Austrian Benjamin Raich.

Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) earned the third Top 30 giant slalom result of his World Cup career, finishing in 23rd spot today.

“I may have taken the bottom part too easily. We knew from our course reports from the coaches that there was a tricky gate at the bottom and I guess I took it too lightly,” Guay said.

“But this result will give me some valuable GS points in the overall standings. I would love to compete in the World Cup Finals in Bormio in three disciplines,” he said.

Jean-Philippe Roy (Ste-Flavie, QC / Gatineau, QC) was sitting in good position after the first run in 16th but failed to finish his second run. François Bourque (New Richmond, QC) was 33rd in the opening run, missing qualification for the second run by just 0.15s. Scott Barrett (Toronto, ON) was 52nd with Robbie Dixon 53rd.

A successful return of World Cup ski racing to Whistler, BC concludes tomorrow with the Ladies TELUS Whistler Super Combined. Rogers Sportsnet will have the television coverage starting at 11 a.m. MT / 2 p.m. ET.

WHISTLER, BC – FEB. 23rd, 2008 – GIANT SLALOM – MEN

For complete results click here...

FLASH QUOTES

Hannes REICHELT (AUT) 1st place

On winning:

“It’s really hard to say. I’m lucky today and I think I can be happy with the slope and that gives me a lot of self-confidence.”

Didier CUCHE (SUI) 2nd

On the result:

“I’m really happy with the result. I wasn’t so happy with the super g. I didn’t push enough and I said to myself I have to push two runs to be in the front.”

On his performance:

“I think now the important thing is the head; not getting nervous before the start, doing your best, pushing really hard to take risks. That’s the key when it’s going so good like this season for me. Some days I feel really good at the start and I make good result and some day I am also good but I can do better.”

On the World Cup point standings:

“I think mathematically I can win but it is going to be really hard. Ben is everywhere strong…Bode is really strong also. It’s going to be interesting and some suspense until the end.”

Benjamin RAICH (AUT 3rd

On the race:

“We had a good race today and that’s very important to know because we are here in two years.”

On his performance:

“Everyone likes to be on top and that was my goal today but I made a good race and now I’m third so I’m happy.”

2008 TELUS PRESENTS THE WHISTLER WORLD CUP

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

* The TELUS Whistler Men’s Giant Slalom races on Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 can be seen on TSN at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET.

** Subject to change

ABOUT TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $9.0 billion of annual revenue and 11.0 million customer connections including 5.4 million wireless subscribers, 4.4 million wireline network access lines and 1.2 million Internet subscribers. TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video. Committed to being Canada’s premier corporate citizen, we give where we live. Since 2000, TELUS and our team members have contributed more than $91 million to charitable and non-profit organizations and volunteered more than 1.7 million hours of service to local communities. Eight TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead our local philanthropic initiatives. For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com

ABOUT ALPINE CANADA ALPIN
Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) is the governing body for alpine ski racing in Canada with more than 50,000 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteer members and over 200,000 supporting members. ACA manages the high performance programs for the athletes of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team who represent Canada throughout the world. For more information on Alpine Canada Alpin, visit www.canski.org.